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    Home » Recipes » Kombucha

    Modified: Mar 19, 2024 · Published: May 7, 2022 by Willow Moon · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

    Citrus Kombucha

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    This Citrus Kombucha is sweet and tart with grapefruit, orange, lemon, and lime juices. Sweetened with maple syrup for added sweetness.

    Citrus Kombucha in two glasses next to citrus fruit.

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    Made with four different citrus fruits, this Citrus Kombucha is a sweet, tart, bubbly drink.  Freshly squeezed orange, grapefruit, lemon, and lime make this homemade kombucha light and refreshing.

    It's sweetened with maple syrup to balance out the tartness of the citrus fruits.

    Some other drinks I've made with citrus fruits are a Strawberry Limeade recipe, an Orange Mocktail Mojito, and a Grapefruit Basil Mojito.

    For a healthy breakfast recipe with oranges try an Orange Creamsicle Chia Pudding.

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why You'll Love It
    • Two Types of Fermentation
    • What Makes Kombucha Fizzy?
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 🥣 Supplies
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • Should I Burp My Second Ferment Kombucha?
    • How Long Does It Take To Get Fizzy Kombucha?
    • 💭 Tips
    • 🥃 Other Kombucha Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ❤️ Why You'll Love It

    • Made with four different citrus fruits, it is sweet and refreshing.
    • It's a great alternative to soda.
    • It is cheaper than store-bought kombucha and you get to control the ingredients.

    Two Types of Fermentation

    The first fermentation of kombucha is when you combine sweetened tea, a kombucha scoby, and some starter tea. You let it ferment for 7-21 days and the result is uncarbonated unflavored kombucha.

    For the second fermentation, you remove the scoby and take that kombucha you made in the first fermentation and add flavor. You let it ferment for another 3-5 days in sealed bottles. The result is a fizzy-flavored drink.

    You can ferment the flavored kombucha for up to 14 days. It all depends on the amount of sugar content in the flavor you're adding, and the temperature of the room.

    Warmer temperatures will cause faster fermentation, and higher sugar content will also speed up fermentation.

    What Makes Kombucha Fizzy?

    The second fermentation is when kombucha gets fizzy. By putting it into a sealed container at room temperature and adding a sugar source (fruit and/or sweetener), carbon dioxide builds.

    🧾 Ingredients

    Citry kombucha ingredients on cutting board with labels.
    • Homemade kombucha: You'll need freshly made kombucha that has not been refrigerated yet.
    • Orange juice, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and lime juice: I used freshly squeezed citrus juices. You could also use. store-bought orange juice and grapefruit juice. I do not recommend using store-bought lemon or lime juice because I don't know how the preservatives react with kombucha. Another kombucha recipe with citrus juice is my Orange Kombucha recipe.
    • Maple syrup: Adds sweetness. You could also use agave syrup or simple syrup.

    To see the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    🥣 Supplies

    • Funnel
    • 4 (25 ounce) bottles with flip-top lids
    • Measuring cup

    🔪 Instructions

    Orange juice being poured into a funnel into a bottle.

    Step 1: Juice oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes. Strain the pulp.

    Pour 2 tablespoons of orange juice into each bottle.

    Grapefruit juice being poured into a funnel into a bottle.

    Step 2: Pour 2 tablespoons of grapefruit juice into each bottle.

    Lemon juice being poured into a funnel into a bottle.

    Step 3: Pour 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into each bottle.

    Lime juice being poured into a funnel into a bottle.

    Step 4: Pour 2 tablespoons of lime juice into each bottle.

    Maple syrup being poured into a funnel over a bottle.

    Step 5: Pour ¼ cup maple syrup into each bottle.

    Kombucha being poured into a funnel over a bottle.

    Step 6: Pour your freshly fermented homemade kombucha into the bottles, leaving 1-2" head space. Let sit 3-5 days.

    Flip-top bottle being popped open.

    Step 7: Pop open the lids at least once a day. Pressure builds, and this allows it to escape.

    Should I Burp My Second Ferment Kombucha?

    Yes! If you don't you could have a mess. By adding sugar to the homemade kombucha and fermenting it a second time in bottles with swing-top lids, you're creating an environment for carbonation. If you don't allow it to escape, you'll have kombucha all over your kitchen.

    How Long Does It Take To Get Fizzy Kombucha?

    It can take anywhere from 1-14 days. It depends on a few things.

    1. It depends on how much sugar you have in the kombucha. (Sugar in the form of fruit and/or sweetener.) The more sugar, the faster you'll get carbonation.
    2. It also depends on the weather. Warmer temperature = faster carbonation. I've had bubbly kombucha after a day in summer months and bubbly kombucha after a week in colder months.

    💭 Tips

    • Shake the bottle before pouring a glassful.
    • You can substitute the maple syrup with agave syrup, brown sugar, white sugar, or another sweetener.
    • Refrigerate after the kombucha is done fermenting.
    Citrus Kombucha in two glasses next to citrus fruits.

    5 Secrets To Making Kombucha

    Pomegranate Kombucha in two glasses.

    Kombucha just got easier!

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    🥃 Other Kombucha Recipes

    • Lime Kombucha
      Lime Kombucha
    • Beet Kombucha
      Beet Kombucha
    • Blueberry Kombucha
      Blueberry Kombucha
    • Grapefruit Kombucha
      Grapefruit Kombucha

    🌟Need a new kombucha scoby? I love to buy my scobys from Fermentaholics. They're inexpensive and my kombucha comes out great every time.

    If you tried this Citrus Kombucha Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how you like it in the 💬 comments below. I love hearing from you!

    📋 Recipe

    Citrus Kombucha
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    5 from 1 vote

    Citrus Kombucha

    This Citrus Kombucha is sweet and tart with grapefruit, orange, lemon, and lime juices. Sweetened with maple syrup for added sweetness.
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
    fermenting 5 days days
    Total Time 5 days days 5 minutes minutes
    Servings 12
    Calories 141kcal
    Author Willow Moon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 4 (25 ounce) bottles with flip top lids or other air tight bottles
    • Funnel
    • Measuring cup

    Ingredients

    • 12 cups homemade kombucha
    • ½ cup orange juice
    • ½ cup grapefruit juice
    • ½ cup lemon juice
    • ½ cup lime juice
    • 1 cup maple syrup

    Instructions

    • Juice oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes and strain pulp.
    • Line up 4 (25 ounce) bottles with flip top lids or other air tight bottles.
    • Pour 2 tablespoons orange juice, 2 tablespoons grapefruit juice, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons lime juice, and ¼ cup maple syrup into each 25 ounce bottle.
    • Using a funnel, pour freshly made homemade kombucha into each 25 ounce bottle leaving 1-2" head space.
    • Let bottles sit out (at 75° - 85°) 3-5 days, making sure to pop the lids each day to let out the pressure of the carbon dioxide. Taste each day to test its flavor and fizziness.

    Notes

    Use freshly made kombucha that has not been refrigerated yet.
     

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    Nutrition

    Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 119mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 27IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg
    SIGN UP for my newsletter, get a FREE 30 Minute Vegan Dinners 7-Day Meal Plan as a welcome gift! 💌

    *Note: Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only. Different nutrition calculators give you different results.

    More Kombucha

    • Lemon Lime Green Tea Kombucha
      Lemon Lime Green Tea Kombucha
    • Lemon Green Tea Kombucha
      Lemon Green Tea Kombucha
    • Mango Green Tea Kombucha
      Mango Green Tea Kombucha
    • Raspberry Green Tea Kombucha in a glass with straw.
      Raspberry Green Tea Kombucha

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    Comments

      5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Rhonda says

      October 21, 2023 at 5:17 pm

      Hi,
      I tried this recipe and after a full week have no carbonation. I'm not new to making kombucha and have never had this happen before. The other portion of my 1st fermentation went into bottles with ginger and berries and is every bit as fizzy as usual. They were stored in the same location & used the same bottles I always use. The flavor is great, it's just flat. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions? Does the citrus fruit affect the speed of the 2nd fermentation?

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        October 22, 2023 at 8:35 am

        Did you add the maple syrup in the recipe as well? The maple syrup would add the needed sugar if your citrus wasn’t sweet enough. If you did add it is probably because your citrus wasn’t sweet enough. You may need to let it ferment even longer. Did you use flip-top bottles?

        Reply
        • Rhonda says

          January 13, 2024 at 3:11 pm

          Yes, I did add the maple syrup. And I do use flip top bottles.

          Reply

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    Citrus Kombucha

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